A new partnership bringing together key industry groups and the government has been launched this week with an objective to help increase the number of high quality apprenticeships in the manufacturing sector.
The Apprenticeships in Manufacturing group was announced by Minister for Skills Alex Burghart as part of the National Apprenticeship week campaign. It seeks to boost opportunities for young people by growing the number of manufacturing SMEs offering apprenticeships as well as apprenticeships in new and net zero sectors.
The partnership will see nine member organisations representing employers across the manufacturing sector work collaboratively with the Department for Education, and is to be chaired by Anita Davenport-Brooks of the Lander Group.
“I believe that apprenticeships bring a valuable return on investment, not only financially but in every area of any business and I am passionate about the benefits they bring for individuals too,” she said.
“I have seen apprentices with differing abilities grow, develop and obtain substantive roles and there is common agreement that apprenticeships develop sustainable talent. I want to see AiM achieving on its objectives and growing more of this wonderful skilled talent for our sector.”
The nine members of AiM are: Cogent Skills; the Engineering & Machinery Alliance (EAMA); Enginuity; the Food & Drink Federation (FDF); the Furniture Interiors Education Skills & Training Alliance (FIESTA); Make UK; the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD); the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT); and the UK Metals Council (UKMC).
Make UK’s head of policy and campaigns Bhavina Bharkhada said: “Apprenticeships and apprentices are the lifeblood of UK manufacturing, innovating, creating and making our future a reality. Through collaboration and coordination, the AiM will be the collective voice for promoting manufacturing engineering apprentices amongst SMEs, boosting apprentices across the country in our sector, and leading the way in developing apprenticeships ready for our digital and green future.”
The group also has close links with the National Manufacturing Skills Taskforce and is supported by the Department for Education as well as BEIS, DEFRA, DWP and the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education.
Engineering & Machinery Alliance secretary Jack Semple commented: “We are very pleased to be an active part of Apprenticeships in Manufacturing. It is a timely initiative that will help to strengthen apprenticeships and skills across the machinery and component supply chain, which is so vital for the future.”